Chapter Text
PROXIMA MIDNIGHT
A man in glittering silver armor approaches her, his eyes are dark, hooded with pitch-black lids.
“I’m getting the feeling,” he starts, “that you’re desperate.”
She allows herself a smirk, her eyes dance with something close to amusement. “I have an entire army and four of the six infinity stones. Why would I be desperate?”
He copies her grin, leaning down to her height. “Because they have the other two.”
“Don’t overestimate the power of one planet.” She hums, her voice rolls with a growl, “they are nothing compared to my army. My father crushed them with the flick of his fingers.”
“Your father crushed all with the flick of his fingers.” He corrects. “Including my people.”
“Your people won’t die of famine, now.” She fights back, glaring. Her staff slams into the ground. “Your people will prosper.”
“Our resources are-“
“Join me or die.” She says simply.
He swallows, his head falls as he sits on his throne.
“You call me desperate.” She says, standing, “but it is you who should be begging me. I will bring prosperity to your people, the Taran’s will only bring death and destruction.” She hisses. “Join me, or perish at the hands of those monsters who live to destroy my father’s namesake.”
“For my people.” He sighs out. “Very well.”
-
TONY
Strange watches him pace. May sits unknowingly beside The Wizard, her suit still on, only her helmet has fallen.
“Peter’ll be up soon.” Tony says, “Strange said that T’Challa said that he’s just finishing up with Barnes and Wilson.”
“Finishing up his busy work?” May says, stepping around the awkward phrasing.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“I’m still a little…” May laughs, her gloved hands coming up to frame her face. “Is this even real? What the fuck is my life, Stark?”
“It’s Tony.” Tony corrects, smiling. “I think we’re at the first name level.
May shakes her head. “Sure. Tony.”
“Life only gets weirder from here. Ask Pepper or even Rhodey. Both of them went through this whole ‘what the fuck, superheroes are a thing and I know them’ mindset you’re going through.”
May sighs. “So, we need a place- or a time? I still don’t really get the stone thing.”
Tony shakes his head. “Join the club. Strange has yet to elaborate.”
“Maybe if you shut your mouth,” Strange glares, “I could interject.”
“Wow, Strange, rude.”
May raises her eyebrows. “Wow, you really look insane when you do that.”
“I always look insane.” Tony scoffs. “Anyway, Strange, continue.”
Strange rolls his eyes, sighing down at his feet. “Let me bring Peter into your plane of sight so he can offer his thoughts.” He flickers from view, then appears with Peter’s hand held in his.
“Hi, Mr. Stark!”
“Hey, Kiddo.” Tony grins, “May, he’s standing next to you. No- to the right. Yup, that's about right.”
Peter smiles down at her. “Tell her I say hi.”
“He says hi.”
May smile up at him. “Hello, Pete. Like my suit?”
Peter seems to just now register that, he looks her up and down. “What the fuck.”
“Hey, Peter, language.” Tony glares.
May raises an eyebrow. “You want me to come on the next step with you?” She asks him, “or you can put me to work here?”
“You can come time traveling if you want.” Tony says, “but… I don’t know the effects of it, and we need people here incase…”
May nods. “We can take it in turns. Some people can go for one, some others for the next.”
She raises her arms. “How do I get outta this thing?”
“Double-tap the arc reactor,” Tony instructs, sitting back in a chair.
“Can we get back on topic?” Strange asks as May’s suit retreats into an arch reactor, clamped over her sternum. He was going to make it into a necklace so she could wear it more inconspicuously, but he didn’t have time to perfect it.
She watches the light on her chest, the light blue in contrast to her striped button-up, then turns back to him.
“Strange is gonna start talking, so it’ll be a minute.” Tony says, she shrugs, and he turns back to The Wizard, “go ahead.”
Strange sighs, sitting up so his arms rest on his knees. “I’d suggest we go after the stones individually as Mrs. Parker suggested. In alternating teams to account for the radiation of using the stones.”
“Where should we base?” Tony asks, “if the radiation’s such a factor?”
“Titan?” Strange suggests, “it’s deserted, so maybe that would be best. I’d suggest some Avengers stay here, though. And Shuri should work on panic control.”
Tony nods. “What one do we go for first? And how should we get them?”
“I think we should figure out which times would be best to go to for each, and which people would be best to collect them at that time.” Strange says, “you should host a team meeting.”
“I’ll help.” Peter says, “I can go grab the dusted Avengers…?”
“Not yet, Kid.” Tony says, then turns his gaze back to Strange, who Peter has a hand on the shoulder of. “Do you have any ideas for times to get the stones?”
“I know a man called ‘The Collector’ had the reality stone at a point in time.” Strange offers.
“You know what time?”
“I can find out.” Strange answers cryptically.
Tony decides not to question further, “alright.”
“You should get to work on discussions. I would also suggest you contact all remaining Avengers.” Tony thinks of Pepper, then, and realizes he never even asked Happy about her, he just assumed she was working with SI on damage control.
“Hey, May, can you talk to Rhodey for me?”
“What about?” She asks, standing to follow him. He’s walking towards the elevator now.
“Just ask him about Pepper.” He says, “we’re still not… not on the best terms. But I’m worried about her.”
When May doesn’t answer for a moment, he turns.
“What?” He asks, a spike of fear shoots through his gut.
“I called Pepper to ask about you and Peter,” she bounces her eyes between his. “She didn’t pick up.”
He lets his eyes fall shut, and when he opens them he’s getting two looks of concern from May and Peter, Strange is looking down at the marble floor.
“It’s ok.” He says, “she’s alright. She’s probably helping anyway.” He closes his eyes again, then shakes out his shoulders and presses the elevator button.
“I’m sorry, Tony.” She says, pressing her fingers to his shoulder.
He turns back, half in the elevator. “No reason to be. Just have Rhodey… I dunno. Just talk to him. He’ll know what to do.”
“Ok.” She says, then scans his face. “Is Peter coming with you?”
He locks eyes with Peter, who nods. “I’ll come.”
“I am also coming.” Strange says.
“Yeah, he’s gonna tag along,” Tony says to May. “You don’t mind, right?”
“No, no. Peter can have fun with his super-friends. I’m gonna go find Carol and Happy.”
“Have fun with your super-friend… and Happy.” Tony adds on with a considering look, “don’t think he has a super title, yet.” He’s holding the elevator for Peter and Strange to climb on.
“Will do.” May smiles with rolled eyes, her hands in her back pockets.
“And get some practice in with the suit! Play around with Carol, and have Karen page me later. If I have time I’ll come out and help you.”
May’s smile widens. “I lied, Peter. I do like him.”
Peter laughs, something small, then bounces his eyes between Strange and Tony, who give him matching looks of concern. “I knew she’d come around.”
“You didn’t like me?!” Tony asks as the door closes, turning to Peter as it shuts, “she didn’t like me?”
“She hated you.” Strange confirms. He’s hiding a smile with a forced frown.
“How do you even…” Tony looks over at him, then rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Of course you know. Tell me, Know It All, got a location on Rogers?”
Strange gives him A Look.
“Fine.” Tony raises his hands in surrender, “yeesh. Sorry I asked. Friday?”
“I’ll contact Princess Shuri.” Friday says.
Peter is staring hard at the elevator, as he has since it closed. The numbers still tick down.
“What’s wrong, Kid?”
“I still can’t believe you made my aunt a suit!” He blurts. “I thought we agreed on Protocol Webs!”
“I may have… added to Protocol Webs a bit.” Tony mutters. The floors get closer to zero as Peter gives him A Look to rival Strange’s.
“I don’t want her to get hurt, alright?” Tony says, looking over at Peter. “She’s your aunt. You love her, so I have to at least care for her a little.” He trails off as the sentence ends. “I make suits. That’s my thing.”
The door opens, and Natasha is in front of him. “Shuri said you were lookin’.”
“Yeah, for Rogers. I was trying to round up everyone.” Tony says. “Strange and Peter are here too, we’re talking about stone plans.”
“We figured. Shuri and Steve rounded everyone up.” She glances around them, she seems satisfied with whatever she was looking for. “He’s trying, Tony.”
Tony looks down, “I’m giving him a chance.”
“I don’t know why.” Nat says, “what we did, what I did… I’m sorry.”
Tony shakes his head. “We all fucked up.”
She looks down again, dodging his eyes. Her eyelashes are long on her cheeks. “I really did.”
He places a hand on her arm, hesitantly. “You were forced to… I knew you’d pick Rogers, in the end.”
She throws her eyes back up to him. “Don’t-”
“Romanoff, he’s where your loyalties lie.” He’s smiling. “He’s the one who’s lies you tell.”
“You’re my friend too.” She says, harsh. “I apologize that I… I lost your trust. I understand that I lost your trust.” A nurse pushes past them to get into the elevator, Tony and Nat sidestep. “But you were my friend, I was picking you. And then I saw him… Barnes means so much to him… If he was protecting anyone else I would have Widow Bit him… but Tony…”
“I understand.” Tony says, his eyes skirting to Strange desperately, he needs someone to get him out of this. “I get it.”
Nat seems to notice his unease. “They’re in that room, back there.” She nods back, crossing her arms over her chest. “Go. Tell them the plan.”
“Nat…” Tony closes his eyes and clenches his jaw to ground himself. When he opens them she’s looking at him. “Come with me, let's just… be friends again.”
Nat scans his face before she nods. “Alright.” She turns on her heel, sweeping her emotions away with the movement and leading him to the room.
The original team plus Shuri stares him in the face, Clint arrived at some point while they were away, because he too sits in the room, arms crossed.
Nat falls beside Clint.
Thor and Bruce are as inseparable as they have been these past few hours. The raccoon is hanging off Thor’s shoulder again. They stand in the far corner of the room.
Steve stands in the center of it all, leaning against the long conference room table. “How’s your side?” He asks.
Tony brings his hand to his abdomen. “May cleared me. Plus I’ve got a doctor following me around, ain’t that right, Wizard?” He looks over towards Strange, who rolls his eyes.
“That’s good.” Steve says, awkwardly. And wow, this is almost like an awkward divorce… this is worse than him and Pepper. His ex-girlfriend. Literally awful-
“Mr. Stark?” Peter chimes in, very gently. “Shouldn’t we ask if anyone has a time location on the stones?”
“Oh! Right, sorry. Ah, Spidey just got me back on track. Do any of you-”
The door slides open to Carol and May. “I’ve got the Tesseract.”
The entire room looks at her, then Tony says, “excuse me?”
“I know where we can get the tesseract. That’s got the space one in it. I gave it to Fury, years ago. We can go back, take it from him, and leave.”
“He’ll just… give it to you?”
Carol shugs. “Yeah.”
“I’ll go with her.” May says, “seems like a beginner’s mission.”
Tony registers that, then says slowly; “well, no offense, Glow Stick… or May, but I want a uh… Avenger on this trip. We don’t know Marvel here very well… I can-”
“I can go.” Steve cuts Tony off, “I’m ok with grunt work, I’ll go. Tony, you shouldn’t.”
“Why not?” Tony asks, met with matching looks from Steve, Strange, May, and Peter.
“You have a stab wound.” May says, like it’s obvious.
“I just killed Thanos with a stab wound. This is time travel. You can’t bench me.”
“You need to go on an easier one.” Steve says.
“This is the easier one.”
“This is Fury.” Steve says with raised eyebrows. “You’re not exactly his favorite person.”
“He doesn’t even know me yet!” Tony scoffs, frustrated.
“We want him to get to know you.” Steve retorts. “So you’re staying for this one.” Tony looks around the room for someone to back him up. May just gives him a ‘he’s right’ look.
“Fuck. Fine. I’ll get the mind stone.” Tony sighs, I just need to go back to 2015.”
“Vision’s body.” Bruce pipes up. “You can remove it and get it back in easily.”
“My tech.” Tony shrugs. “I can be in and out. Plus, I’ve got the ghosties, no one can see ‘em.”
“I want someone else going with you.” Steve says, “someone who can act.”
Strange slams his whip into the floor and Tony crosses his arms over his chest with a growing smirk.
“... That doesn’t…”
“Nebula will come with me.” Tony says. “I saw her fight, she’s good. And trustworthy, right Strange?”
Strange hesitates a second like he’s thinking over if he should tell Tony, then nods.
“Strange says yeah.” Tony raises his eyebrows at Steve. “That good enough for you?”
Steve nods, backing down. “Alright… and this won’t change anything?” He asks, “I still don’t really understand the whole… time… thing.”
“It won’t change anything.” Strange confirms. “Each time we change something from the past, another branch of time will be created, an alternate reality will be formed.”
“It won’t change anything.” Tony assures. “Strange says it will create another reality for that time.” He claps, “We need a group on the reality stone, Strange knows where to get it. Then we need one on the soul stone.”
“I’ll take the group for reality.” Nat says, raising her hand.
“Banner, Rabbit, and I will take the soul stone.” Thor offers.
“I will stay here with my people.” Shuri says. “And we have two people coming in, friends of
Captain Rogers. They can go with a group.”
“Clint and I’ll take them.” Nat shrugs, “which friends?” She looks at Steve.
“You won’t want to take them if you know.”
“Oh no.” She mumbles.
“Yup.”
“No.”
“Who?” Tony asks, “I feel very left out, here.”
“Oh, just Scott and Hope. She doesn’t like Scott.” Steve says, met with Tony’s confused squint.
“No one likes Scott.” Nat defends, angling her face towards Tony.
“The Ant Man.” Strange offers when Tony doesn’t look any less confused.
“Who the fuck is Ant Man?” Tony responds, face screwed up.
-
SCOTT LANG
Hope looks over at him from her spot on the plane. “Are you ok?” She asks.
“I still don’t get it.” He says, “they didn’t even call me!”
“One: you’re not their friend, they probably forgot you existed until just now. Two: you were in the quantum realm. They couldn’t have reached you if they tried.” Hope rolls her eyes.
“And the whole ash thing?! What the hell?” Scott, who has been trying and failing to reach
Cassie and her mother for the better part of an hour, slams his phone on the leather cushion of the seat beside them.
“I’m sure Captain America will explain.” Hope says, taking his phone from him. “They’re alright, Scott.”
“You don’t know that.” He mutters, reaching for his phone.
“No, I don’t.” She says, holding it out of reach. “But if anyone can help, it’s The Avengers… probably.”
Scott sighs, his arm dropping. “What if…”
“Don’t think about it.” Hope glares. One of Stark’s disheveled employees runs by, towards the cockpit.
“You think we can help?” Scott asks, looking over at her, unconcealed worry on his face. “Because I really don’t think I can help.”
“Captain America called you asking for help.” Hope says, annoyed. “They’re desperate.”
-
PETER
Tony’s wearing his Iron Man suit. Nebula stands close beside him.
Strange watches Tony take the time stone, carefully holding it in his gloved hand and clenching his fist around it. The team surrounds the two they can see.
Peter has a hand on Strange’s shoulder blade. Tony watches them. “What now, Strange?”
“Peter, do you mind?” The Wizard asks.
Peter takes his hand from Dr. Strange, and opens his eyes to find himself in his body, three feet away. A thickness like cotton fills his head and clogs up his ears, he tries to shake it away.
Strange steps towards Tony, whose eye is still fully orange- is it permanent? He holds his hand over Tony’s, “it’s not too difficult to do.” Strange says, “you just have to be sure.”
Peter then watches the stone get covered in nanobots, stuck to the back of Tony’s suit’s hand. “Gotta fly to the location before we turn back time.” Tony says to the group. “You ready to go, Nebula?”
Nebula nods, already on the dock of the ship Shuri’s lending them. “Waiting on you, Sir.”
“Alright. All set then-“
“Tony.” Steve says, “just be careful.”
Peter sees Tony fight back a smile. “Planning on it, Cap. C’mon Strange, Peter. Let's get on.”
Peter sees Strange flicker from view, his body then blinking to life beside Peter. “Are you ready, Spider?” He asks, looking over fluidly.
“Yeah. No. Yes.” Peter swallows, nodding his head to the side, then shaking out his hands as Tony climbs on the ship. “Space and time travel, in the span of two days. Pretty scary.”
“You’ll get used to it.” Strange says, slamming his whip into the floor before walking towards the ship. Peter scrambles to catch up.
-
The stone is glowing a neon green. They sit in the ship outside The Tower. “The date, Tony.” Strange reminds. “Just focus on the date.” He places his hand, however non-corporeal, over the back of Tony’s, and the area around them flashes green.
When Peter opens his eyes his body is gone, as is Strange’s. They’re both able to be on their own.
Nebula doesn’t react to them, meaning they’re still not real again. And the ship is missing.
Tony and Nebula run for cover to the side of the building. Peter runs with Tony out of habit, while Strange saunters over lazily, his cape flowing- Strange has kept it in the projection, this time.
“Nebula?” Tony asks, holding out an arm. She fits along side him, he wraps an arm around her waist as she steps on an armored foot. “See you two up there. My labs on the same floor, Pete.” He has his voice a normal height- it is New York, after all; no one will care enough to listen.
Tony’s helmet falls, and he’s shooting up into the sky.
“Where are the stairs?” Strange asks on a sigh. Peter leads them into the building and around the security desk, gesturing to a fire stair door.
“Any way to magic up them?” Peter asks Strange weakly. Strange sighs, offering his hand ot Peter. Peter takes it, and makes a yelping noise when he’s yanked up off the floor and dropped at a landing. The door says Floor 80.
“Few more levels.” Peter mutters, his heart beating fast as Strange lands beside him, his cape coming down elegantly. Strange reaches for him. “Ah! No, no. We can walk. Walking is cool.” Peter dashes towards the stairs. Strange follows him with a smirk.
When they finally reach the floor Peter is careful about walking through the door into Tony’s lab, he sees Tony, wearing only a t-shirt and jeans; no suit. Bruce Banner... a longer haired, glasses wearing Bruce Banner stands opposite from him. Both of them are washed with a blue light. Banner gestures as he talks.
“So you... want me… to help you… put Jarvis into this thing?”
“No!” Young Tony responds with. Peter can see their Tony and Nebula in the window, they’re gone a moment later. “Of course not. I want to help you,” he points at Banner, “put Jarvis in this thing.”
Banner moves his body and shakes his head in a manner that says ‘I can’t believe you’ an ‘no, Tony.’ at once.
“We’re out of my field here.” Young Tony says, “you know bio-organics better than anyone-”
There’s an alarm. Young Tony and Bruce Banner look up at the ceiling.
“What could that be?” Banner asks.
Jarvis throws up a holo-screen. A blue woman runs past security on it, her swords gleaming in the fluorescent lighting.
“Nebula.” Peter whispers. He sees Tony in the window with a thumbs up.
“Will security deal with it?” Banner asks slowly.
“I don’t know-”
“Sir,” Jarvis chimes in, “if I may interrupt, the intruder is asking for you. They don’t appear to be of this world.”
“Fuck.” Young Tony swears, “ready one of my suits. Try to isolate it to one part of the building.”
Young Tony is running off. Banner follows after a second of hesitation.
Their Tony taps open a window. “Thanks, Jarvis.” He says.
“Of course, Sir.” Jarvis answers. Tony’s helmet falls, he’s smiling smugly. “Can you open the box?”
The lid pieces slide to the side, they’re all standing by the feet of Vision’s red body. Tony moves up, until he’s standing by the head.
Tony taps his arch reactor, his suit retreats into it.
He picks up a screw driver. “Jarvis, tell past me I’m sorry.” He sticks the flat edge in the small crack between the stone and the vibranium, and wiggles.
“Of course, Sir.” Jarvis repeats.
Tony does that a few more times, “Friday, give me some power.” He grumbles, his suit starts to build up around his bicep and shoulder blade... and the stone pops up from it’s compartment. Tony’s suit gauntlet is still around his hand for the time stone, so he grabs it with that hand. The little connecters, hardly visible, hang on to the stone. “There goes a few million dollars.” He cringes. “Is Nebula alright, Jarvis?” Tony asks, showing off the stone to Strange.
Peter grins at him, holding up a thumb. “Good job, Mr. Stark!”
“I am directing her from the building against Other Sir’s orders.”
“Thanks.” Tony says in relief, sparing a smile towards Peter. “Ok, you two. Head back down. I’ll get Nebula and we’ll blow this popsicle stand-”
“Tony-” Strange warns- Peter just now sees...
Iron Man clangs down behind Tony.
Tony turns to the repulsor of a clunkier suit held in his face, Peter rushes forward with a hand outstretched.
Young Tony’s helmet falls. “What the fuck.”
“Jarvis.” Tony- Peter’s Tony… Mr. Stark says, “warn a guy.”
“My apologies, Sir.” Jarvis says. Peter doesn’t hear any remorse.
“Who are you?” Young Tony says, Peter assumes he was tipped off about Mr. Stark’s location by this Jarvis AI.
Mr. Stark holds his hands up, but seems to think better of it, lowering the hand with the stone, which is slowly being carried by nano bots up and over to the back of his gauntlet to his chest.
“I thought I was supposed to be a genius?” Mr. Stark glares, looking over to Peter with a ‘this moron’ look.
“Who.” Young Tony’s repulsor wines. “Are. You.”
“You, Dipshit.” Mr. Stark rolls his eyes. “Friday?”
“Yes, Boss.” Comes from Tony’s reactor. The nanobots crawl over his clothes to complete his suit, minus the helmet.
“See?” Mr. Stark says, spinning his hands. “You.”
Young Tony raises his eyebrows. “Yeah, ok. Next thing you’ll tell me is that you’re from the future.”
Mr. Stark gasps. “Ding ding ding! Peter, tell the man what he’s won!”
“Oh please.” Strange sighs, creating a shield in front of Tony. “Let's go, before you kill youself.”
Mr. Stark sighs. “Fine, where’s Nebula?”
“We’ll find her.” Strange says, he drops his shield, forming a portal with his hand.
Young Tony has a look on his face of surprise and badly concealed fear. Peter steps through the portal, out onto the New York street they first reversed time to. Then Strange follows, then Mr. Stark.
Their Tony turns before the portal shuts, and says. “James Barnes is alive. Peter Parker lives in Queens. And SHIELD is HYDRA.” The portal shuts on a shocked man, repulsor half lowered.
(“I don’t know!” A younger Tony Stark would say, pacing before his team later, “he looked like me, had really advanced tech, was talking to no one, and had an orange eye.”
“What did he say?” Cap would ask, his hair still wet from a shower.
“Jarvis, play the clip.” Tony would order, crossing his arms over his chest.)
Nebula comes running from the lobby doors, Tony grabs her wrist and closes his eyes. Strange and Peter grab his arms.
A flash of green and Peter is waking in his body.
-
TONY
He lands the jet outside the castle, by The Rouge’s Quinjet. The team meets them outside.
“Did you…” Bruce starts, Tony holds out his hand, the two stones embedded into his glove shine in the setting sun.
“Shit.” He mutters. “That’s…”
“Three stones.” Tony says, “took us a few minutes.”
“Few seconds, here.” Nat says, “beside the flight.”
“We could have everyone back before next week.” Shuri says, astonished and worried.
May and Carol step forward in unison. “Peter?” May asks.
“He’s fine. Just there.” Tony nods his head to the left where Peter and Strange are astral projected. May lets out a small breath.
“Who’s mission’s next?” Tony asks, then seems to think, “Friday, encapsulate and remove stones.”
The stones are covered in gold nanobots and dropped in his metal palm.
Carol shugs, answering his earlier question. “May, Steve, and I can go.”
“Coolio,” Tony responds, handing off the time stone with an approving nod from Strange, keeping the mind stone close to him.
The world has shifted, and they’re the only ones who have the power to stop it.
-
PROXIMA MIDNIGHT:
Her new army mingles with her father’s old as the Slave Colony produces more weapons.
The King she bullied into joining the cause lies unconscious before her, she binds him there with ropes of the reality stone.
She lets a smile cross her face.
“You.” She says, sharp. The servant she’s directed it to squeals.
“Yes, your Majesty?”
“Who are your planet’s closest allies?”
“Uh… Sovereign and Jotunheim are close powers-”
“Good. Ready a ship with your best fighters.” She orders. “They will be joining us in the fight against Tera.”